DPWH

Meanwhile, an Australia-based self-styled independent engineering group that conducted an audit of the six flood control projects flagged by Oriental Mindoro Gov. Humerlito Dolor and DPWH Secretary Dizon, debunked that they are ghost projects, yet it noted performance gaps and areas for reform.

- — Neil Jayson Servallos, Delon Porcalla, Rainier Allan Ronda

may still retain "a very small amount" from the P275 billion for areas identified as highly flood-prone by Project NOAH.

"If ever, they will leave a small allocation for NOAH-identified flooded areas. But as a rule, they will scrap it, they will no longer resubmit the P270 billion budget request for flood control projects," Gatchalian said in an interview over radio dzBB.

Project NOAH develops hazard maps and risk assessment tools to guide disaster preparedness and climate resilience. Initially launched by the Department of Science and Technology in 2012 but phased out in 2017, it is now carried by the UP Resilience Institute.

President Marcos earlier announced that there would be no new flood control items in the 2026 national budget. He explained that about P350 billion in unspent funds from the 2025 budget and previous appropriations remain available and should be used before new proposals are considered.